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Showing posts from June, 2016

Remembering Elvis' Legendary Guitarist: Scotty Moore (1931-2016)

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Keith Richards may have said it best: "Everyone wanted to be Elvis, I wanted to be Scottie Moore". Scottie Moore the lead guitarist for Elvis Presley on so many of his biggest songs, inspired the next generation of guitarist in the rock & roll world. Keith Richards, George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Brian Setzer, Alvin Lee, Jeff Beck, Ron Wood & Mark Knopfler, to name a few. Scotty Moore was born December 31st, 1931 in Gadsden, Tennessee. Moore began playing guitar as a child, influenced by country music as well as jazz. One of Moore's biggest influences was Chet Atkins.  Moore served in the US Navy from 1948-1952, came home & began a legendary music career. Moore & his band the Starlight Wrangler got to audition for Sam Phillips at Sun Records. It was Phillips who knew that Moore's guitar playing, Bill Blacks double bass slapping style, were going to be perfect behind a young

Mets Welcome Back Jose Reyes

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So the Mets have signed Jose Reyes after a five year stretch where he played in South Florida, Toronto & Colorado. Although he batted .296 in 2013 (in just 93 games) Reyes has not hit .300 since he left the Mets. That season he was the only Mets player ever to win a batting title. In 2012 he played 160 games in Miami but has seen less time each year. He has not hit double digits in HRs since 2013 (10) but did drive in 50 runs in 2014 & 2015 while stealing 20 plus bases three times since leaving the Mets. Jose is now 33 years old, but an injury plagued 33 year old career with an ugly domestic violence issue & suspension looming over his head. Mentally he is happy the Mets gave him a chance & the fans will be happy to see him again. He didn't leave on the best terms taking himself out of the game after sealing the battling title. Jose got a little to big for his pants & since he left he has never been the same player  but the Mets became National League Ch

2015 NL Champion Mets Italian / American Reserve Outfielder: Darrell Ceciliani (2015)

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  Darrell Ceciliani was born on June 22nd 1990 in Tracy, California. At a young age he moved to Madras, Oregon, growing up there on a family cattle ranch. In the off season he still works at the Family Farm. The six foot one left hand hitting outfielder, attended Columbia Basin College at Pasco Washington. He was selected by the New York Mets in the 4th round of the 2009 draft. Ceciliani is a good swift runner known more for speed & contact hitting rather than his power. He spent 2009 in the Rookie League at Kingsport, getting promoted to A ball Brooklyn Cyclones in 2010. He had a fine year there, making the All Star team & finishing with the highest batting average in Cyclones history, batting .351 with 21 stolen bases & 12 triples in 68 games. He credits former Met Wally Backman, the Cyclones manager at the time, as well as coach Benny Distefano for bettering his hitting. In 2011 he went to the Savanah Sand Gnats falling off to a .259 average, hitting more double

Former Late 1980's Mets Player & David Wright's Agent: Keith Miller (1987-1991)

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Keith Allen Miller was born June 12, 1963 in Midland, Michigan. The five foot eleven righty handed hitting Miller was a graduate of Oral Roberts College in Tulsa Oklahoma. Miller was originally signed by the A.L. New York team but was a good man and didn’t sign there, opting for the New York Mets in 1984. His fine glove got him to AA Jackson by 1986 where he then hit .329 while stealing 28 bases. In 1987 he was brought up to AAA Tidewater becoming the Tides main second baseman for two seasons, batting a best .281 in 1988. He was brought up briefly in 1987 after the Mets World Championship season to play middle infield behind Wally Backman, Tim Tuefel & Rafael Santana in mid June. He debuted on June 16th & got two hits in Montreal in a 7-3 Mets win against the Expos. He remained on the team until June 27th, was sent back to Tidewater returning to New York as a September call up.  In his rookie year Miller hit .373 (19 – 51), while stealing eight bases, with a pair of

Mets Assistant General Manager : John Ricco (2004-2016)

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John Ricco was born in Cresskill New Jersey in 1968. He attended Villa Nova University & landed a job as an intern with the AL New York club in 1991. Ricco then worked for MLB in the Commissioners office from 1992-2004. He was considered an expert in the Basic Agreement collectively bargained between the players & owners. After that he took a job with the New York Mets as an assistant to the General Manager. He worked for the Omar Minaya Mets period & served as an interim GM after his dismissal. Ricco has since worked under Sandy Alderson. In his role Ricco helps assist the General Manager as well as making sure all Sandy Alderson's decisions are legally accurate. He watches over all operations, manages the budget, monitors the waiver lines, as well as oversees all transactions & trade opportunities. Ricco also makes sure all the clubs records are correct as well as all the players contracts. Ricco was in the spotlight on May 25th 2016 after Matt Harvey refu

Mid Nineties Mets Pitcher: Jason Jacome (1994-1995)

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Jason James Jacome was born November 24th 1970 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The six foot one left handed pitcher was drafted out of a Tulsa Community College by the New York Mets in the 12th round of the 1991 draft. He made his MLB debut on July 2nd, getting a start against that years NL Champion San Diego Padres in Southern California. He took a loss allowing just two runs on eight hits in six innings. On July 7th he got his second start & became the first Met in twenty years to toss a shut out in his second MLB start. That day he blanked the Dodgers in Los Angeles on a six hitter. His next two starts came at Shea Stadium & he earned two more victories beating the Padres & San Francisco Giants. On July 27th he won his fourth straight game beating the Cards in St. Louis. The Mets thought maybe they were on to something but it wasn't to be. He lost two of three starts in August and was shut down for the season. He began 1995 getting a shot in the Mets rotation, his